Scarnecchia survives the test of time

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — He can scream like the marine sergeant he once was, instruct like the teacher he wanted to be and tell stories like the wise old sage that he is.

With a folksy charm marked by genuine humility and expressions like watch-charm guard — “I was so small, you could put (me) on your charm bracelet” — Dante Scarnecchia can captivate a listener like few others in football.

Scarnecchia, the longest-tenured assistant coach in Patriots history, is the man that makes the Patriots’ five offensive linemen play as one, or, as he puts it, “see the game through the same set of eyes.”

“Dante’s amazing, for as many years as he’s been in the league and as many coaches as he’s withstood and stayed with the Patriots,” center Dan Koppen said. “The guy comes in every day and works hard. He coaches us to get better every day and you can tell he cares by the way he does it.”

He has avoided the transient nature of NFL assistants, surviving six Patriots head coaches to stay in New England for all but two of the last 26 seasons, leaving for 1989 and 1990 to follow Raymond Berry to the Indianapolis Colts. He’s spent the last eight year’s as Bill Belichick’s offensive line and assistant head coach.

“I’ve been really fortunate. It’s just been an unbelievable set of circumstances I can’t explain and don’t care to explain it,” the man known as “Scar” said. “I know it’s been an absolute gift. I just take it for what it is. I’ll be 60 years old in two weeks and to think that we could be here this long and to have this kind of run is pretty extraordinary. I can’t explain it. There’s a lot of good coaches that have come and gone, much better coaches than I’ll ever be. Why we’re allowed to stay, I can’t really explain.”

He started his coaching career in 1970 as the offensive line coach at California Western, where had played as a 185-pound guard and center, also spending time in the Marine reserves. He jumped from Iowa State to Southern Methodist to Pacific to Northern Arizona and back to SMU before making the jump to the Patriots, hired by Ron Meyer in 1982.

Serving under Meyer, Berry, Dick MacPherson, Bill Parcells, Pete Carroll and now Belichick, he brings an energy that belies his age. He runs after practice, swims to rehab a shoulder injury and works most days on four hours of sleep, sometimes arriving around 3 a.m.

“Despite what his chronological age is,” Belichick said. “He coaches with a vigor and enthusiasm and energy that is kind of special and very noticeable on the field.”

But more than that enthusiasm, his linemen respond to his approach. He keeps explanations simple and he deals with each player the same.

“He holds everyone accountable. It doesn’t matter who you are,” guard Stephen Neal said. “You can be a 10-time Pro Bowler if you don’t do your job out there, he’s going to let you know about it. He expects perfection, which is pretty much impossible, so we’re always working harder and harder to get to where we want to be.”

Scarnecchia, though, wants no part of the credit, conceding only some of it to his longevity. He puts it on his linemen. And on the man they are protecting.

“The system’s been in place for a number of years and we have the same quarterback, thank God, and them being around for a period of time, all of them for at least three years, I think that makes it easier for everyone,” Scarnecchia said. “And quite honestly, I think I became a better coach, they became better players when No. 12 became our quarterback, honest to God. And you have a runner like Laurence (Maroney), and Kevin (Faulk), they make it easy.”

The Pats have used the same blocking schemes for seven seasons, he said, with only minor tweaks. There have been no additions and the terminology stays the same.

“I think it’s more that situation than maybe implying I have this great wisdom or knowledge,” he said.

Whatever combination of factors is at work, the success has been undeniable. Three of the five starters are headed to the Pro Bowl and the Pats led the AFC in sacks allowed per pass play, the line the backbone of a record-setting offense. In Week 17 against the Giants, who led the NFL in sacks in the regular season, to one takedown of Brady.

“I’ve coached for 37 years. I think that helps more than anything. I’ve seen a lot of football. I hope it helps,” Scarnecchia said. “Hey, look, we’re not building rockets. We’re just playing the game.”